TWO mums are making a big impact in Royton after launching a before and after school club so popular that the children don’t want to go home.
Bethany Dale and Sophie Byrne set up Little Saplings at their children’s school – St Paul’s Primary on Hindle Drive – in September 2021 after recognising a need with headteacher Hilary Henderson.
Children can play and relax at their welcoming club while developing social skills, and together they celebrate occasions including Pancake Day and Valentine’s Day.
The club, which also runs in the school holidays, also hosts film nights and children are given healthy snacks and a drink.
Sophie explained: “We worked closely with Mrs Henderson to launch a club where children from reception could see familiar faces from around the school. The older ones take them under their wings like mother hens.”
“We now have about 30 children on the register. They love coming in and telling us about their day.
“We greet them like we would like our own children to be greeted after school.”
Bethany added: “It feels good when they enjoy coming to the club so much that sometimes they don’t want to go home.
“When the nights get lighter and their parents arrive to take them home they look at them as if to say ‘why are you here so soon?’
“And we have the same values here as the school, such as respect for the space they play in and the equipment.”
Bethany’s daughters Amelie, nine, and Evelyn, seven, and Sophie’s sons Rory, nine, and Joel, four, are pupils at St Paul’s and they also attend Little Saplings.
Mrs Henderson said: “We had a high demand from our parents and we wanted to support parents to go out to work and achieve their ambitions.
“A couple of our parents came forward to say they’d be interested in running it, as one was a teacher and one worked for Early Help. Their values all align with school and the club is very much part of the school.
“School is a safe place where they can be with their friends while the club supports their independence and their parents being able to work while they access a good day at school.”
Breakfast clubs and after school provision for primary school aged children in England, also known as wraparound childcare, typically run from 8am until 6pm during term time either on a school site or another local setting.
You can speak to your child’s school to find out what childcare is currently available in your area, and you can request that your child’s school consider setting up wraparound childcare if they do not already provide it.
If you are eligible, you will be able to use Tax-Free Childcare or Universal Credit Childcare to help pay for their place.
For more information visit www.oldham.gov.uk/wraparound